I can't quite remember if I've ever posted a BEFORE picture of the bathroom we have been working so hard on...well in case I haven't...here is the before shot of our guest bathroom:

And without further adieu....here is the AFTER....in all it's SPLENDOR (yes I'm in LOVE):

I really couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. And to think I did 98% of the work on my own! I must say...I am one proud chica :) The paint colour I used on the walls is Benjamin Moore White Dove.

There are still a few small odds and ends to pull together to bring it to completion...a couple areas to re-grout, a small area on the wall to sand and repaint, and of course I MUST buy that gorgeous Anthro shower curtain I've been drooling over. I have literally gone in the store 3 times...picked it up and put it down right before making it to the checkout. On my student budget I can't really talk myself into the $115 price tag...just yet!

The wall art was an easy choice for this bathroom! My mom passed down these two sailboat sketches to me on our last visit home. I am SO happy I get to have them....I always loved and admired them growing up...thanks MOM!

The Mirror is a VERY old antique I picked up on a recent trip to one of our local antique malls. It just so happens that I have TWO antique malls within walking distance of my University classes...look out :)

Now that I can look back on it, I realise how fun this project actually was. I learned so much about tiling and plumbing! And I actually am going to be looking for another antique dresser to turn into a vanity for our master bathroom very soon!

Here is a breakdown of the cost:

*Antique vanity $35

*tile - free...thanks Dad and Leah

*grout, mortar, & tile supplies $100

*paint & paint supplies $50

*Antique Mirror $120

*Light Fixture (Martha Stewart, Home Depot) $79

*Faucet $189

*Sink (American Standard) $134

*Plumber (to fix the things I couldn't) $175

GRAND TOTAL: $882

Since we spanned this project over a month and a half it didn`t seem to cost a whole lot. Kitchens and bathrooms are so important in a house. Especially for resale. They can also cost a lot more to remodel. I can honestly say I probably wouldn`t have even started a project like this without the incentive of free tile! And luckily, since we spent nothing on the tile, I was able to splurge on the sink, faucet, and mirror! I think when I do our master bath I will try and keep the budget at $500...now that will be a challenge...but who doesn`t like a good challenge every now and again!

Hopefully in less than a weeks time I can show off the final reveal for this bathroom makeover! The vanity and floor are complete! Plumbing and all! The only things I have left to tackle besides a few odds and ends are a new shower curtain (hoping to get another pretty Anthro one), a vanity mirror, new light fixture, and PAINT!!!!

Here is a somewhat tutorial on how to transform a dresser into a custom vanity!

First things first...since I am not putting a slab of marble or any other hard surface on top of this piece, I made sure I lacquered the dickens out of the top of it so it could withstand a lot of splashing and water droplets in the years to come! Once dry, I took the sink 'cut-out' template that came with the sink and made a few modifications of my own (specifically, I made the 'cut-out' quite a bit smaller, so the strength of the vanity would be less compromised. I wanted to be able to cut out JUST ENOUGH for the sink to fit snug :)

I cut out the center of the template, so I had a mock paper sink, and the center was the area of wood to be removed. I secured the template with painters tape and traced the inner square onto the dresser.

I actually had step-by-step photos of how to do all this but I think I accidentally deleted them in the process :(

After the square was traced, I removed the template and drilled a hole inside the square so that my skill saw blade had somewhere to start the cut-out process....I then pushed the saw towards the line drawn cut-out and trying my VERY BEST to stay on the lines, cut out the square.

Voila! I'm pretty proud of myself :) As you can see (ahem...the right side of the cut-out), it's not perfect! But it did the job because when I took that sink and plopped it in the hole, it FIT!!!! First time was a charm in this case (this never happens for me)!!!!

I assembled everything up in the bathroom and called a plumber to re-attach the pipes. I could have done this part on my own, but after tackling the toilet myself, I thought I'd sit back and watch on this one :P

As you can see, the walls are still needing paint, and that's the very next thing on my list.

Refitting the drawers was pretty easy as well. Using a measuring tape, I marked where the pipes were on the wooden drawers. Then I took my same handy skill saw and cut out space for the pipes. Using some 1/4" wood I made new drawer edges on the inside of the drawers, using a combination of glue and the odd nail to keep them in place.

I can't wait to tie all the odds and ends together in this bathroom. I love looking at it and knowing that we put the whole thing together. So far the WHOLE project has cost us less than $500!

I'm also seeking your opinions on this one little detail! These pretty antique looking faucet handles came with FOUR combinations as options!!! Stainless or Antique ceramic? English or Francais? (I kinda like the french writing for a touch of whimsy...so I think I'm sold on that idea)...but I really want to know what you think about the two handle finishes??

Stainless?

Or antique ceramic?

I start my last university semester next Wednesday so I NEED to get myself in gear and paint BEFORE I get swamped with biology homework! Someone please light a fire under me :)

Also, any thoughts on paint colours? I'm definitely going with a sort of white in here. Since there are no windows I want to keep it airy and fresh...but I'm wondering what undertone will compliment the mix of cream in the dresser and cool greys in the tiles?

My Etsy Shop

Through the Looking Glass

My Style- I'm a girl who wakes up each morning excited to decorate my house and paint anything I can get my hands on and goes to bed dreaming about it. I don't know if I could label my style as any one in particular. But I would say it is a mix between Coastal, Hollywood Regency, French Country, and maybe a little bit traditional too. I like to mix anything I love together! Vintage and worn, shiny and new! Oh and how could I forget...I love a touch of glam too!